cofound: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2Formal, Business, Academic
Quick answer
What does “cofound” mean?
To establish or create (an organization, institution, or company) together with one or more other people.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To establish or create (an organization, institution, or company) together with one or more other people.
To be jointly responsible for the original establishment and early development of an entity, often implying shared vision, risk, and initial effort. May also refer to originating a movement or idea collaboratively.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling: British English often uses a hyphen ('co-found'), while American English prefers the closed form ('cofound'). Both are understood. Usage frequency is similar.
Connotations
Slightly more prestigious/entrepreneurial in American business culture. In British English, may be associated more with charitable or academic institutions as well as businesses.
Frequency
Higher frequency in American English due to prevalent start-up/tech culture. Increasingly common in UK English.
Grammar
How to Use “cofound” in a Sentence
[Subject] cofounded [Object] with [Co-agent][Subject] co-founded [Object] in [Year]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cofound” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- They decided to co-found a sustainable energy charity.
- She co-founded the journal with a colleague from Oxford.
American English
- He cofounded two successful Silicon Valley startups.
- They plan to cofound a new venture capital fund.
adverb
British English
- (No standard adverbial form)
American English
- (No standard adverbial form)
adjective
British English
- (Not standard; use 'co-founding' as participle adjective) The co-founding members met annually.
American English
- (Not standard; use 'cofounding' as participle adjective) Her cofounding vision shaped the company culture.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Primary context. Refers to the act of starting a company with partners. E.g., 'She cofounded the tech unicorn.'
Academic
Used for establishing research centres, journals, or academic societies. E.g., 'He cofounded the interdisciplinary studies department.'
Everyday
Rare in casual conversation. Might be used for community groups or clubs.
Technical
Specific to entrepreneurship, organisational theory, and business history.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cofound”
- Using 'cofound' as a noun (the noun is 'cofounder').
- Incorrect past form: 'He cofound the company' instead of 'He cofounded the company'.
- Misplaced hyphen: 'co found' or 'co-found' where style guide prefers 'cofound'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Both 'cofound' (closed) and 'co-found' (hyphenated) are correct. 'Co found' (separate) is incorrect. American English favours 'cofound', while British English often uses 'co-found'. Choose one style and be consistent.
'Found' means to establish alone or be the primary founder. 'Cofound' specifies that the founding act was collaborative, involving two or more people as joint, primary founders.
Yes. While most common for businesses, you can cofound a charity, a school, a research journal, a political movement, or any organised entity.
The noun is 'cofounder' (or 'co-founder'). A person who cofounds something is a cofounder. The act itself can be described as 'the cofounding of...'.
To establish or create (an organization, institution, or company) together with one or more other people.
Cofound is usually formal, business, academic in register.
Cofound: in British English it is pronounced /ˌkəʊˈfaʊnd/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌkoʊˈfaʊnd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “(No common idioms with 'cofound' as a standalone word. Found in phrases like 'cofounder and CEO'.)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'COllaborate to FOUND something'. CO + FOUND. Like finding (founding) something together (co-).
Conceptual Metaphor
FOUNDATION-BUILDING (laying the first stones of an institution together), BIRTH (giving joint birth to an enterprise).
Practice
Quiz
What is the most accurate meaning of 'cofound'?